Support and housing for panel boards



Oct. 22, 1957 R. s. LARsEN 2,810,618

SUPPORT AND HOUSING FOR PANEL BOARDS Filed June 1o, 1954 /NVEN70R I HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

United States Patent O SUPPORT AND HUSING FR PANEL BARDS Robert S. Larsen, Fresno, Calif.

Application .lune 10, 1954, Serial No. 435,790

7 Claims. (Cl. S12-312) The present invention relates to `articles of furniture and more particularly to improvements in a support and -enclosure member for easels, drafting boards, blackboards and like articles.

Artists easels, portable blackboards Iand many types of drafting boards of a portable nature have conventionally been supported by tripod arrangements or other cumbersome supporting frameworks. When not in use, such structures are incapable of compact storage and olfer no protection for paintings, drawings and the like left unfinished on their panels or boards. Some conventional structures are detachable 'by removal of the `supporting legs from `the panels or boards thereof so that in this manner tiey are more easily transported. However, such separable structures are clumsy to handle and again, leave drawings and the like on the boards readily susceptible to damage. Further, in school room it is frequently desirable to employ paper or cardboard supporting panels or boards for pupil use without interfering with normal blackboard use. Such has been quite difficult to achieve in the limited classroom area available and with conventional easels or stands.

The foregoing problems indicate a need for a conveniently operable, combined support rack and housing for easel boards, blackboards, drafting boards and the like. Such a structure, as provided by the present invention, is designed adequately to protect the drawings or other materials on the panel boards when not being worked upon and further provides sturdy vsupport for such boards when in use.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a combined housing and support for easels, drafting boards, blackboards and the like. l

Another object is to provide a collapsible structure for supporting and housing such items as noted in the foregoing paragraph.

Another object is to provide a housing for supporting a panel member selectively in retracted and outwardly extended positions.

Another object is to provide a housing for retaining a panel member in retracted position therein and Isupporting the panel in outwardly extended inclined position.

Another object is to provide a housing adapted slidably to receive a panel member in guided relation therein, further adapted for sliding movement of the panel to extended position wherein the panel is swingable into a constrained position of inclination.

Another object is to provide a panel such as an easel, drafting board, blackboard or the like slidably fitted in a casing for movement along an inclined plane between a retracted position interiorly ofthe casing and an extended position wherein the panel is swingable for further sliding movement along an inclined plane oppositely sloped from the first plane into an outwardly extended rested position.

Another object is to provide la housing for collapsibly mounting a panel member having an arrangement of grooves for selectively receiving the panel member ICE adapted to house the panel and to maintain the panel member in outwardly extended inclined position relative to the housing.

An additional object is to provide a device of the character described which is suitable for mounting on the chalk rails of the blackboards conventionally found in schoolrooms and the like.

Further objects are to provide such an arrangement as set forth in the preceding paragraphs which includes stop means limiting sliding movement of the panel, tray ho1ding means for the panel and means for mounting the housing for the panel in an upright position.

These and other objects will become more fully apparent upon reference to the following description.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the device of the present invention in retracted condition mounted on a chalk rail of a blavkboard, the latter being fragmentarily represented.

Fig. 2 is -a somewhat enlarged section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Y

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a panel member in outwardly extended inclined position, as for use.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged top view with a lid member thereof pivoted to open position.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on a horizontal plane indicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on a horizontal plane indicated by line -6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings:

In Fig. l, a housing, rack or casing 10 is shown hav ing a rear wall ll. The rear wall provides a pair of side edges iZlZ, an upper edge 13 and a lower edge 14.

A pair of side walls 20 and 21 are connected to the side edges of the rear wall and extend forwardly therefrom in spaced parallel relation. The side walls are provided with inner faces 22 and 23, respectively. The housing further provides a forward wall Z4 connected between the forward edges of the side walls and in spaced parallel relation to the rear wall. The forward wall is foreshortened relative to the rear wall, preferably being substantially onehalf of the height of the rear wall, as seen in Figs. l to 3. The housing is open at its upper and lower ends, as at 25 and 26, respectively. A mounting strip 27 extends between the side walls adjacent to the upper edge 13 of the rear wall. A molding strip 28 is attached to the mounting strip 27. An elongated lid 29 is connected to the molding strip 28 by a pair of hinges 'S0-30. The lid has an upwardly extended lip 31 along the forward edges thereof.

Each of the side walls 20 and 21 is adapted guidably to receive a panel or board 34 therein in a manner subsequently to be described. The panelboard may be for a variety of functions as for example, a support for a painting canvas, drawings or other art materials such as used in drafting or may comprise a blackboard. Since the inner faces 22 and 23 of each side wall are similarly constructed,reference will be made only to side wall 20 in describing the mounting arrangement for the panel board.

Referring to Fig. 3, the inner face 22 of side wall 20 is provided with a forwardly inclined lower groove 3S extending from the rear corner of the lower edge of the side wall upwardly and forwardly to a position intermediate the front and rear corners of the upper edge of the side wall. This lower groove has parallel forward and rearward surfaces 36 and 37, respectively. The lower edges of the forward and rearward surfaces both terminate at the lower edge of the side wall. Although the upper edge, indicated at 40, of the rearward surface terminates at the upper edge of the side wall, the upper edge, indicated at 41, of the forward surface is foreshortened somewhat and terminates approximately two- A thirds of the way up the side wall.

A rearwardly inclined upper groove 45 having parallel forward and rearward surfaces 46 and 47, respectively, is also provided in the side wall 20. The forward surface 46 is inclined upwardly and rearwardly and has an upper edge 48 terminating in the upper edge ofthe side wall adjacent to upper edge 40. The rearward surface 47 provides an upper edge 49, joined to the upper edge 41 by an arcuate section 50. The lower edges of the upper groove terminate in a blind or closed bottom 51. A substantially V-shaped space 52 is defined between the forward surface 46 of groove 45, the rearward surface 37 of groove 35 and the arcuate section 50, for a purpose subsequently to be described.

Stated otherwise, the inner face of side wall is provided with a groove having outer front and rear groove surfaces 46 and 37 and inner front and rear groove surfaces 47 and 36, respectively, in spaced parallel relation to the outer front and rear groove surfaces. The outer groove surfaces provide upper ends terminating in the top edge of the side wall and lower ends downwardly divergent therefrom. The inner groove surfaces provide interconnected upper ends spaced below the upper ends of the outer groove surfaces.

A pair of angulated brackets 55 are mounted on the side walls 20 and 21 adjacent to the lower edges thereof and provide inwardly extending rearwardly inclined stop surfaces 56. A pair of pins 57 are mounted on the side walls adjacent to their upper edges and extend inwardly thereof likewise constituting a pair of stop members.

The panel board 34 is of substantially rectangular shape and of relatively hard or stili material and is mounted for slidable movement in and out of the housing 10. The panel board provides an upper edge 61, a lower edge 62 and side edges 63 and 64. Further, the board has a forward surface 65 and a rearward surface 66. A tray 70 comprising an elongated channel member closed at both ends having a somewhat inclined lower surface 71 and end walls 72 is attached to the panel board on the forward surface 65 thereof adjacent to the lower edge 62. A handle 73 of any convenient type is mounted on the forward surface 65 adjacent to the upper edge 61.

The panel board 34 is mounted between the side walls 20 and 21 with the side edges 63 and 64 slidably fitted in either the upper or lower grooves, 45 or 35, as desired. These grooves are adapted to guide the panel board for slidable movement between a retracted position within the housing, as seen in Fig. 2, wherein the panel board is fitted in the lower grooves and an upwardly extended position, as seen in Fig. 3, wherein the panel board is rested in the upper grooves. Because of the inclination of the grooves, the panel board assumes a position of forward inclination relative to the rear wall 11 when in the retracted position and a position of rearward inclination when in the upwardly extended position. In the upper position, as seen in Fig. 3, the lower end of the board rests in the blind bottom 51 and against the rearward surface 47 of groove 45 while a central portion of the board rests against the upper edges 40.

Y Operation The operation and utility of the present invention is believed readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. When not in use, the panel board 34 is normally retained in retracted position within the housing 10, as best shown in Fig. 2. The housing, including panel 34, is of sul'liciently lightweight and compact size that it may be conveniently transported. Alternatively, it may be rigidly attached in upright position to a support surface. An example of this latter mounting is shown in Figs. 1 to 3 wherein the device of the present invention is combined with a conventional blackboard, indicated at 80. The housing is attached to a chalk rail 81, molding strip, or other mounting surface on the blackstood that the device may simply be stood on a supporting table or dsek or affixed to any suitable support member in the manner illustrated in the drawing.

If mounted in the manner shown in Fig. 2, the lid 29 is pivoted to its downward position when the panel 34 is not in use and cooperates with the molding strip 81 of the blackboard to hold erasers, chalk and the like thereon. In this position, lip 31 prevents such articles from falling off the lid.

ln order to employ the board 34 for supporting a canvas, drawing or for writing upon the board in the event of its use as an auxiliary to the blackboard 80, the lid 29 is lifted into a position, as shown in Fig. 3, and the board 34 is lifted in the housing by the handle 73. The lower grooves 35 guide the upward sliding movement of the panel through the upper open end 25 and when the end walls 72 of tray 70 hit the upper stop members 57,further upward sliding of the panel is precluded. In this position, however, the lower portion of the board is disposed within the V-shaped space 52 and with lower edge 62 above the arcuate section 50. By pushing rearwardly on the upwardly extended portion of the board, it may be swung or pivoted around that portion of the board lying between the upper edges 40 and 48 of the grooves. These edges 40 and 48 act as a fulcrum for the pivotal movement of the board. The swinging motion of the board is limited when it abuts against the forward surfaces 46 of upper grooves 45l whereupon the board may be slidably lowered in grooves 45 between forward and rearward surfaces 46 and 47 until it rests in the blind bottoms 51 of the upper grooves. Because of the rearward inclination of the upper grooves, the board is held in an upwardly extended, rearwardly inclined position with a portion of the board maintained between edges 40 and 48, as best seen in Fig. 3. In this position, the board is ready for use as an easel, blackboard or drafting board. Further, the tray 70 is conveniently disposed for use in the normal manner with the board for holding brushes, paints, chalk, erasers and the like. When used with a permanent blackboard, as 80, the board is readily available to display charts,

' graphs, maps and the like or may be used as a support for writings, paintings, or drafting, as above described, for many and various educational and entertainment purposes.

The board 34 is returned to its retracted position by lifting upwardly on the handle 72 whereupon the board is lifted from the blind bottom 51 of the upper groove 45 until tray 72 hits stop pins 56. Thus the board is again held in spaced position above the arcuate portion 50. The board is then swung rearwardly into the lower groove 35 whereupon it is eased downwardly in sliding manner between forward and rearward surfaces 36 and 37 of the lower groove. When the lower surface 71 of the tray 70 abuts against the stop surfaces 56 of brackets 55, further downward sliding movement of the board is prevented. Thus, the tray not only serves its normal function as a container but further acts, in cooperation with stop members 55 and 57, to limit upward sliding movement of board 34, and to limit and retain the board against downward sliding movement holding it in proper housed relation. In this position the board is fully retracted within the housing and any art materials such as unfinished paintings, drawings or writings left on the board are protected against damage or erasure by the forward and side wall to 24, 20 and 21 of the housing. As an added measure of protection against dust and the like from above, the lid 30 may be pivoted to its downward position to close partially the upper end of the housing.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a collapsible article of furniture useable as an easel, drafting board or blackboard has been provided. The structure described is portable in nature and provides for a sturdy and rigid support rack for a panel board as well ,as a convenient protective housing for the panel board when not in use.

The invention is not to be limited to the specific inclination or arrangement of grooves 35 and 45. It is quite apparent that the construction of the grooves could be modied to accommodate various shapes of boards as well as other controlled movements thereof. Further, although grooves have been shown and described, other guiding means for accomplishing a similar purpose are to be included within the scope of this invention.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any any all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An article of furniture comprising a housing having a rear wall deiining an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of side edges, a pair of side walls substantially perpendicularly extended from the side edges respectively of the rear wall, a substantially rectangular panel having a pair of side edges, an upper edge and a lower edge and being mounted for slidable movement in the housing with the side edges thereof being disposed adjacent to the side walls of the housing, means on the side walls for guiding the movement of the panel between a forwardly inclined retracted position within the housing and a rearwardly inclined extended position outwardly of the housing with the upper edge thereof rearwardly displaced from the lower edge, a tray mounted along the lower edge of the panel, and stop means mounted on the side walls laterally extending inwardly thereof and cooperating with the tray to limit slidable movement of the panel in both the retracted and extended positions of the panel.

2. An article of furniture comprising a housing having a rear wall providing a pair of side edges, a pair of side walls forwardly extended in parallel relation from said side edges respectively, the side walls having therein a lower pair of oppose-d corresponding grooves in the side forwardly inclined relative to the rear wall, an upper pair of opposed corresponding grooves rearwardly inclined relative to the rear wall and individually connected with the lower pair of grooves of their respective side walls, a substantially rectangular panel mounted in the grooves of the housing selectively positionable between a retracted position within the housing and a rearwardly inclined extended position, the panel having a pair of side edges slidably received in the lower pair of grooves when the panel is in a retracted position and in the upper pair of grooves when the board is in an extended position.

3. An article of furniture comprising a housing having a rear wall defining an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of side edges, a pair of side walls substantially perpendicularly extended from the side edges of the rear wall and a forward wall extending between the side walls in spaced parallel relation to the rear wall and being foreshortened relative thereto, a substantially rectangular panel having a pair of side edges, an upper edge and a lower edge and being mounted for slidable movement in the housing with the side edges thereof being disposed adjacent to the side walls of the housing, groove means on the side walls for guiding the movement of the board between a forwardly inclined retracted position in the housing and a rearwardly inclined upwardly extended position out of the housing, handle means mounted adjacent to the upper edge of the panel for positioning the panel in either the retracted or extended positions thereof, a tray mounted adjacent to the lower edge of the panel,

stop means mounted on the side walls of the housing and extending inwardly thereof for abutment against the tray to limit sli-ding movement of the panel in both the retracted and extended positions thereof, and the groove means providing for swingable movement of the panel when the tray is in abutment with the upper stop means between said position of forward and rearward inclination.

4. An article of furniture adapted for use with blackboards providing article support surfaces thereon comprising a housing having a rear wall dening an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of side edges, means for mounting the housing along the upper edge of the rear wall to the support surface of the blackboard, a pair of side walls substantially perpendicularly extended from the side edges of the rear wall, a forward wall extended between the side walls in parallel spaced relation to the rear wall, a substantially rectangular panel having a pair of side edges, an upper edge and a lower edge and being mounted for slidable movement in the housing with the side edges thereof being disposed adjacent to the side walls of the housing, means on the side walls for guiding the movement of the panel between a forwardly inclined retracted position in the housing and a rearwardly inclined upwardly extended position out of the housing, a tray mounted along the lower edge of the panel, upper and lower stop means extended inwardly from the side walls cooperating with the tray to limit upper and lower sliding movement of the panel, and a lid hingedly attached to the side walls adjacent to the upper edge of the rear wall and having an upwardly extended front lip, the lid being adapted for pivotal movement between an open position permitting slidable movement of the panel outwardly of the housing and a closed position defining an extension to the article support surface of the blackboard.

5. An article of furniture comprising a pair of spaced interconnected walls having upper and lower ends and front and rear portions, the walls having opposed corresponding groove means providing outer front and rear groove surfaces having adjacent upper ends defining a groove opening therebetween and divergently downwardly extended lower ends, the groove means further providing inner front and rear groove surfaces respectively in adjacent spaced relation to the outer front and rear groove surfaces, the inner groove surfaces meeting in upper ends spaced below the upper ends of the outer groove surfaces; and a panel having opposite edges slidably received in the groove means for movement between a rear position fitted in the inner and outer rear groove surfaces and a front position fitted in the inner and outer front groove surfaces, the panel being slidably extendiblethrough the groove opening and swingable about the upper ends of the outer groove surfaces acting as a fulcrum to facilitate movement of the panel into said front and rear positions.

t 6. An article of furniture comprising a pair of spaced mterconnected walls having top and bottom edges and front and rear edges, the walls having opposed corresponding groove means providing outer front and rear groove surfaces having closely spaced upper ends terminating at the top edge of the walls and divergently downwardly extended lower ends, the lower ends of the front groove surfaces terminating above the lower ends of the rear groove surfaces, the groove means further providing inner front and rear groove surfaces respectively in adjacent spaced relation to the outer front and rear groove surfaces, the inner groove surfaces meeting in upper ends spaced below the upper ends of the outer groove surfaces, and a panel having opposite edges slidably received in the groove means for movement to an extended position fitted between the inner and outer front groove surfaces and to a retracted position between the inner and outer rear groove surfaces, the adjacent upper ends of the outer groove surfaces forming a fulcrum around which the panel is swingable to facilitate movement between said extended and retracted positions.

7. An, article of furniture comprising a pair of elongated walls having top and bottom edges, front and rear edges, and front and rear grooves, means interconnecting the walls in parallel spaced relation with the grooves in corresponding opposed facing relation, the rear grooves having rear surfaces extended the full length of the walls terminating in the top and bottom edges and forward surfaces extended upwardly from the bottom edges terminating at upper ends spaced below said top edges, the forward grooves having forwardly inclined front surfaces extended downwardly from said top edges having upper ends adjacent to the rear surfaces of the rear grooves and terminating at lower ends below the upper ends of the forward surfaces of the rear grooves, the forward grooves further having forwardly inclined rear surfaces extended from adjacent to the upper ends of the forward surfaces of the rear grooves downwardly and terminating at lower ends adjacent to the lower ends of the front surfaces of the forward grooves; a panel having side edges slidably received in the grooves of the walls for movement between a retracted position between the forward and rearward surfaces of the rear grooves and a position endwardly extended from the walls swingable in said extended position around the adjacent front surfaces of the forward grooves and the rear surfaces of the rear grooves so as to be rested in inclined position in the forward grooves; and stop means extended from the walls for limiting movement of the panel in said retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1,899,687 Herrmann Feb. 28, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 173,824 Austria July 15, 1952 

